Wall structure



Dec. 18, 1962 H. B. NEAL 3,068,970

WALL STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 26, 1959 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Dec. 18,1962 H. B. NEAL 3,068,970

WALL STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 26, 1959 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Err- .2.- T: -4INVENZ'GRf HARRY a. NEAL I ATTORNEYS Dec. 18, 1962 NEAL 3,068,970

WALL STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 26, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 EE'.E.

1 52 47 55 54 45 i 5s 54 44,43 I v 4. ll IT [W H!!! 4 11- t-,5 W WTIMHU-l @1 H 1 I 11 W v La 15 I6 so 1 66 an? @J n 30 '6! 58/ i E If I9 I8 2oIIL WHHHW I lugulgmglm 'l I 5 5a n as 2/ a4 INVENTOR.

HARRY B. NEAL ATTORNEYS Dec. 18, 1962 H.'B. NEAL 3,063,970

' WALL STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 26, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

HARRY B. NEAL ATTORNEYS nite This invention relates to wall structuresand more particularly to' wall structures made up of panel members andframe member assemblies which retain and support the panel members. Asan example, the panel members may be panes of glass which are retainedand supported by metal frame members, aluminum extrusions, for example.Such a wall structure may include one or more door frame assemblies.

The present invention is directed to the problem of providing a Wallstructure which, as contrasted with conventional wood or masonry wallstructures, may be relatively easily and quickly built, is relativelyeconomical for the wall area obtained, and wherein a variety ofarchitectural designs are possible. Such wall structures, incorporatingpanel members retained and supported by hori zontal and vertical metalframe members arranged in various types of grid designs, are findingincreasing acceptance I.

in modern architecture. Thus, such a wall structure may be used in abuilding front in conjunction with a conventional masonry wall, thelatter bounding the panel wall structure. The present invention providesnew and improved frame assemblies and frame components for use in such awall structure.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide new andimproved frame assemblies for use in a wall structure made up of panelmembers Which are retained and supported by said frame assemblies.

It is another object of the present invention to provide new andimproved components making up such frame assemblies.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide new andimproved door frame assemblies for use in such a wall structure.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide suchframe assemblies wherein the components making up the assemblies arerelatively economical for the wall area obtained and the components maybe assembled readily on the job.

Briefly described, a preferred embodiment of a frame member assemblyaccording to the present invention comprises an elongated channel shapebody member wherein the channel web faces to the front and the channelsides extend rearwardly from the channel web, an elongated channel shapeface member which overlies the front surface of the body member with theface member channel web being located at the front and the face memberchannel sides extending rearwardly toward the body member,

and an elongated channel shape back member overlying the rear surface ofthe body member, the back member having a channel Web located at therear of the assembly tained by opposed glaze strips. The face member isconnected to the body member by a threaded connector having a headportion which engages the body member channel web and a threaded endportionwhich engages longitudinally extending ribs provided on a pair ofspaced apart,

substantially parallel flange members which, project rear- States Patenti 3,068,970 Patented Dec. 18, 1962 ire wardly from the face memberchannel web. Interconnecting prong members at the ends of the bodymember channel sides and the ends of the back member channel sidesdetachably connect the back member'to the body member. The body member,face'mernber, and back member may be made of extruded aluminum and'theglaze strips may be made ofvinyl plastic. i

When used as a head, sill, or side jamb frame member assembly to beconnected to a bounding 'wall or floor, such a frame assemblyadditionally includes an elongated substantially L-shaped peripherallyextending bar member. The toe portion of the bar is engaged by opposedglaze strips, one mounted adjacent afront side edge of the body memberchannel web and the other mounted at the extremity of a face memberchannel side, and the long arm of the bar is connected to the boundingwall or floor surface with the body member being, in turn, connectedwith respect to the bar member. When used as a door frame assembly, theframe assembly will additionally include a door stop assembly having a.portion located between one of the face member channel sides and theopposed side edge portion of the body member channel web. The bodymember channel web has a pair of forwardly projecting spaced apart,substantially parallel flange members terminating in prong memberswhereby a temporary connector, or retainer clip, according to thepresent invention, may be utilized in retaining panel memhere withrespect to erected body members prior to attachment of the face memberswith respect to the body members.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the attached drawings wherein:

E16. 1 is a front elevational view of a wall structure made up of panelmembers which are retained and supported by frame member assembliesaccording to the present invention, said wall structure including doorframe assemblies and being bounded by another wall structure;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2'Z of FIG. 1, withthe door and door sill being shown only in part;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1 withthe panel member and vertical frame members being broken away to shortenthe figure;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 6-6 of KG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 7-7 of R6. 1 with thedoor and side jamb frame assembly being broken away to shorten thefigure;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 88 of FIG. 1; i

FIG. 9 is an enlarged detail view, in section, of parallel flangemembers projecting from the face member Web shown in FIGS. 2-8; 7

FIG. 10 is an isotr etric view showing a temporary ,connector memberutilized in conjunction with a frame assembly component to retain apanel member in place during erection of a wall structure;

FIG. 11 is a detail view, in section, showing how the temporaryconnector member is retained in place when it is utilized;

FIG. 12 is an isometric view showing a portion of a frame assemblycomponent according to the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a detail view showing how the door step assembly is connectedwith respect to the door frame assembly. a

Referring to the drawings and to FIG. 1 in particular, the referencenumeral designates generally a Wall structure made up of panel members11 which are retained and supported by frame member assemblies accordingto the present invention. These frame member assemblies include sidejamb assemblies 12, head assembly 13, sill assembly 14, vertical mullionassemblies 15, and horizontal frame assemblies 16. As shown in FIG. 1,the horizontal frame assemblies 16 are arranged so as to provide anoffset type of grid appearance but it is apparent, as will be moreevident from the description which follows, that a variety of otherframe member designs are possible. Also, the wall structure is shown asincluding two entrances, one being a single door and the other being adouble door but, again, this is simply one example of how the wallstructure may incorporate entrances since it will be apparent from thedescription which follows that the wall structure may include noentrances, a single entrance or plural entrances as shown in FIG. 1.

Again referring to FIG. 1, wall structure 10 is shown as being boundedby a masonry wall 17, a portion of which is shown in detail at the leftof wall structure 10 as viewed in FIG. 1. It is to be understood that amasonry wall is simply an example of another type of wall by which panelwall structure 10 may be bounded since it is believed to be apparent toone skilled in the art that the panel wall structure may be bounded byother types of walls, wood, for example, or combinations of wood andmasonry, or other materials. The bounding wall and floor thus define thespace or wall area taken up by the panel wall structure 10 and it isbelieved to be further apparent to those skilled in the art that in sometypes of buildings, the panel wall structure may form one or more entirewalls of the building. The showing of FIG. 1 is therefore not intendedto limit the use of a panel wall structure to an area bounded by masonrywalls, but instead, is intended to show how such a panel wall struc turemay be readily associated with masonry wall construction and, moreparticularly, how frame member assemblies according to the presentinvention may be readily and securely attached with respect to asurrounding wall of other material, such as masonry, whereby a varietyof architectural effects may be obtained.

Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 1, 3 and 8, each verticallyextending mullion frame assembly is shown as having three principalparts, these being a body member designated generally by referencenumeral 18, a face member designated generally by reference numeral 19,and a back member designated generally by reference numeral (see FIG.3). The body member, face member, and back member are each preferablysubstantially of channel shape and each is an elongated member in thesense that it extends substantially throughout the length of the mullionassembly of which it is a part. Thus, as seen in FIG. 1, the mullionassemblies extend from the head frame assembly 13 to the sill frameassembly 14 with the exception that one mullion assembly is shown asextending from the head assembly to the top of the double door frame. Ina preferred embodiment of the present invention, the body member 18,face member 19, and back member 20 are each made of rust-proof metalhaving a pleasing exterior appearance. Thus, each member may be analuminum extrusion since this metal provides the advantages of relativelightness, adequate strength, and weather resistance. It is apparentthat such an extrusion may be cut readily into the desired length for aparticular installation.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 10, the elongated channel shape body member 18comprises a channel web 21, which faces to the front, being bounded bylongitudinally extending side edges 22. Channel sides 23 projectrearwardly from channel web 21 and each channel side terminates in aprong member 24 having an abutment surface 25 which faces inwardlytoward the interior of the channel shape body member.

A pair of longitudinally extending glaze strips 26 are mounted at thefront of channel web 21, there being a glaze strip adjacent eachlongitudinally extending edge 22 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 10. Each glazestrip is preferably retained by a configuration of body member 18 whichdefines a dove-tail recess 27 located adjacent each side edge 22 of bodymember 18 and in which the stern portion 28 of glaze strip 26 is locatedas shown in FIGS. 3 and 11. The head portion 29 of the glaze strip has alongitudinally ribbed front surface formed by five sideby-side ribs, orprongs 29a as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 whereby the glaze strip maycontact a panel member along a plurality of longitudinally extendinglines of contact and thus retain and support the panel membereffectively. The glaze strips may be made of any suitable material,vinyl plastic, for example.

A pair of spaced apart parallel flange members 30 project forwardly frombody member web 21 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 10. Furthermore, each ofthese flangemembers terminates in a prong member 31, the function ofwhich is described in greater detail hereinafter.

Face member 19 (see FIG. 3) also comprises a channel web 32, which facesto the front of mullion assembly 15, and channel sides 33 which projectrearwardly from face member channel web 32 as shown in FIG. 3. Each facemember side member 33 terminates in a configuration which defines adove-tail recess similar to the recess 27 shown in FIG. 11 and to whichis connected a glaze strip 26 in the manner in which the glaze strip isconnected as shown in FIG. 11. Thus, it can be said that each facemember channel side terminates in a glaze strip and it is to be notedthat the respective widths of body member channel web 21 and face memberchannel web 32 are such that the respective pairs of glaze strips 26 aredisposed opposite each other whereby they may engage opposite sides ofpanel members 11 to retain and support the panel members. In the usualtype of installation, panel members 11 will be panes of glass but it isapparent that they may be made of other material.

Face member 19 is connected to body member 18 by threaded studs or screwmembers 34 which are located at desired intervals throughout the heightof the mullion assembly. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, each connectingmember 34 has a head portion 35 which engages the rear surface of bodymember web 21, and a threaded end portion 36 which has threads engaginglongitudinally extending ribs 37 on spaced apart parallel flange members38. Flanges 38 project rearwardly from face member web 32.

Each flange member 38 has longitudinally extending ribs 37 formed on theinner surface thereof so that the ribs 37 on one flange are disposedopposite the ribs 37 on the other flange. However, as shown in FIG. 9,one set of ribs 37 is offset with respect to the other set of ribs sothat screw threads of predetermined helical pitch will engage the ribsin such a manner that the screw threads will be retained by the ribs asconnecting member 34 is tightened to draw face member 19 toward bodymember 18. Since flange members 38 extend throughout the length of facemember 32, the opposed sets of ribs 37 are thus available throughout thelength of face member 19 (see PEG. 8) and it is therefore apparent that,by drilling openings in body member web 21 as desired, the connectingmembers 34 can be located at intervals throughout the height of themullion assembly as desired. Furthermore, rib members 37 can be formedby extrusion, thus being a part of the entire extruded shape.

Head portion 35 of the connecting member 34 is provided with suitablekerfs or the like (not shown) for accommodating a screw driver bit, forexample, whereby the connecting member may be turned to draw face member19 toward body member 18. When this is done, it is apparent that theopposed pairs of glaze strips 26 will engage securely opposite sides ofpanel members 11 as shown in FIG. 3. It is apparent also that facemember 19 can be detached readily from body member 18 by unscrewingconnecting member 34 to free it from engagement with rib members 37.

Back member comprises a channel web 39 and channel sides so whichproject forwardly from web 39 as shown in FIG. 3. Each back memberchannel side 40 terminates in an inset portion 41 which, in turn,terminates in a prong member 42. Each prong member 42 engages theabutment surface of the corresponding prong member 24 of body memberchannel side 23 as shown in FIG. 3 whereby the back member is retainedin place with respect to the body member. The resilience of back memberchannel sides is such that prong member 42 can be pressed into snapengagement with prong members 24 and, in turn, can be freed from suchengagement by depressing the back member channel sides until prongmembers 42 are clear of engagement with the body member channel prongs.It is to be noted also that the amount of the inset of inset portion 41is such that the outer surface of each back member channel side 40 issubstantially flush with the outer surface of each body member channelside 23, thereby presenting a pleasing, substantially continuous sidesurface.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4, each side jamb frame assembly 12.includes, like each mullion frame assembly 15, an elongated channelshape body member 18, an elongated channel shape face member 19, and anelongated channel shape back member 20. Since the body, face, and backmembers of the side jamb frame assembly are the same in construction andassembly as their respective counterparts in the mullion frame assembly,they have been given the same reference numerals and further detaileddescription with respect to them is deemed to be unnecessary in view ofthe description given above with respect to the mullion frame assembly.The side jamb frame assembly differs from the mullion frame assembly inthat the side jamb frame assembly includes an elongated substantiallyL-shaped bar member, designated generally by the reference numeral 43,which extends substantially throughout the height of the side jamb frameassembly and is in contact with wall 17 as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 12, substantially L-shaped bar member 43includes a first arm portion 44 and a second shorter arm portion 45whichprojects substantially at right angles with respect to the firstarm portion 44. First arm portion 44 includes a substantially flatsurface 46 which is adapted to be placed against a substantially flatsurface 47 of wall 17. Also, arm portion 44 includes a pair of spacedapart longitudinally extending grooves 48 which project inwardly fromsurface as so that when surface 46 is placed against wall surface 47there is a space provided by each groove 48. The opposite surface 49 ofarm 44 has a longitudinally extending channel shape recess 5t) extendinginwardly therefrom and located, in a direction across the Width of bar43, between grooves 4-8. Finally, the heel portion of substantiallyL-shaped bar 43 is cut away to defines recess 51 which extendslongitudinally of bar 43.

Bar member 43 is attached to wall surface 47 by suitable connector meanssuch as anchor screw member 52 shown in FIG. 4. Screw member 52 passesthrough a suitable opening provided in the channel portion 5% of arm 44and contains a suitable collar 53 whereby arm 44 is retained securelyagainst wall surface 47. Prior to tightening screw member 52-, anysuitable sealing material 54 is placed in grooves 48 so that when thebar member is drawn up against Wall surface 47, the sealing material 54extends throughout the length of the bar member along two substantiallyparallel locations. Addiitonally, the longitudinally extending recess 51at the heel portion of the substantially L-shaped bar member is filledwith a suitable sealing or caulking compound 55 which not only fillslongitudinally extending recess 51 but is also preferably beveled out asshown in FIG. 4 to provide, in effect, a fillet of sealing materialwhich extends 6 throughout the length of the exposed side of the sidejamb frame assembly. It is thus seen that there is, in effect, threelayers of sealing material, or sealant, to prevent moisture from passingbetween the bar 43 and the wall surface 47 to which the bar is attached.

As shown in FIG. 4, body member 18 of side jamb assembly 12' isconnected with respect to substantially L-shaped bar member 43 by meansof connector member, or anchor screw, 52. The head portion of anchorscrew 52 passes through a suitable opening (not shown) in a channel sideof body member 13, the location of the opening being so chosen that theshort arm or toe 45 of substantially L-shaped bar 43 is located betweenopposed glaze strips 26 as shown in FIG. 4. The thickness of toe portion45 of bar 43 is predetermined to be substantially the sarne as thethickness of the panel member 11 which is engaged by the other opposedpair of glaze strips 26 as shown in FIG. 4, whereby, when connectorscrew 34 is tightened, one of the opposed pairs of glaze strips engagespanel member 11 firmly on opposite sides and the other pair of opposedglaze strips engages opposite sides of toe portion 45.

By suitable means, such as nut member 56, body member 18 is held towardbar 43 and, in the example shown in FIG. 4, shim means 57 is shown asbeing located between body member 18 and bar 43 to take up the spacebetween these members, it being assumed that the overall width of theopening filled by wall structure In is such that shimming is required atthe side jamb frame assemblies. As will be apparent to those skilled inthe art, shimming may or may not be required but, in the usualinstallation, the tolerances will be such that some slight slack will betaken up by shim means 57. Thus, nut member 56 will draw body member 13against the shim means 57 to thus retain the assembly of body member 18,face member 19, and back member 20 firmly with respect to elongatedsubstantially L'.-shaped bar member 43.

Referring to PEG. 5, the head frame assembly 13 shown in the upperportion of FIG. 5 is similar to the side jamb frame assemblies shown inFIG. 4. Accordingly, corresponding reference numerals have been appliedto parts in the head frame assembly shown in the upper portion of FKGVSwhich correspond to parts shown in the side jamb frame assembly shown inFIG. 4, and further detailed description of the head frame assembly isdeemed to be unnecessary in view of the detailed description given abovein connection with the corresponding parts of the side jamb frameassembly shown in FIG. 4.

Referring now to the lower portion of FIG. 5, horizontal frame assembly16 is shown as comprising a body member designated by the referencenumeral in since it is the same in construction as the body memberforming a part of the muili-on, side jamb, and head frame assemblies, aface member designated generally by the reference numeral 58, and a backmember designated generally by the reference numeral 5%. Face member 555differs from the face members 19 shown in mullion assembly 15, side jambassembly 12, and head assembly 13, only in that the channel sides 60 offace member 58 are shorter than are the channel sides 33 of face member19. Otherwise, face member 58 is similar to face member 19 and furtherdetailed description thereof is deemed to beunnecessar'y. Back member 59differs from back member 26 in that back member 5? does not have channelsides but, instead, prong members $1 project inwardly from web portion62 of back member 59 as shown in the lower portion of FIG. 5. Prongmembers 61 are thus similar to the prong members 42 of back member 20and engage corresponding prong members on the channel sides of bodymember 18 as has been described above in connection with muliionassembly 15' (see FIG. 3).

ltis apparent from aninspection of FIG. 5 that the 7 horizontal frameassemblies 16 are simply shorter in total depth than the verticalmullion, side jamb, and head frame assemblies. This is understandablesince the hOIlzontal frame assemblies are shorter in length than theother frame assemblies just mentioned and consequently do not have tohave the overall strength of the other assemblies. Nevertheless, it isbelieved to be apparent that the horizontal frame assemblies couldhavethe same total depth as the other frame assemblies and, indeed,apart from the frame assembly strength feature, the total depth of thevarious frame assemblies will depend upon the particular architecturaleffect desired.

Again referring to the lower portion of FIG. 5, a panel member 11 isshown as resting upon, and being supported upon, a shim member 63 which,in turn, rests upon one of the flange members 30 which projects from thefront surface of body member 18 as shown in FIG. 5. In this manner, thedesired spacing of the panel member can be obtained with respect to thehorizontal frame assemblies.

The horizontal frame assembly 16 is supported with respect to thevertically extending mullion frame assemblies 15 by means of anglebrackets 64, one of which is shown in the lower portion of FIG. 5. Thus,one arm 65 of angle bracket 64 is attached to a channel side of bodymember 18 of mullion frame assembly 15, and the other angle arm 66 isattached to a channel side of body member 13 of horizontal frameassembly 16 as shown in FIG. 5. Screw connectors may be used and, as isexplained hereinafter in connection with the sill frame assembly, thehorizontally extending angle arm 66 may include elongated slots wherebyadjustment of the angle member is possible so that the vertical mullionframe assembly can be located precisely. As shown in FIG. 3, where acorresponding angle bracket 64 is shown, arm 66 of the bracket includeselongated slots 67 whereby the angle bracket may be adjustedhorizontally in order to locate the vertical mullion assembly 15 on adesired center line.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the sill frame assembly 14 is similar to thehead frame assembly 13 with the exception that a panel member 11 restsupon a shim member 63 whereby the panel member is spaced correctly withrespect to the sill frame assembly. An additional difference between thesill frame assembly and the head frame assembly is that the body member18 of the sill frame assembly rests directly upon substantia'ly L-shapedbar 43, thus eliminating any shim means 57 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.Since the sill frame assembly is at the base of the wall structure 10,it is both logical and desirable to provide the shim means at the topand sides of the wall structure rather than at the base. Accordingly, noshim means is shown in FIG. 6. Otherwise, however, the sill frameassembly is similar to the head frame assembly shown in the upperportion of FIG. and therefore corresponding reference numerals have beenapplied to corresponding parts.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, door frame assemblies according to thepresent invention are shown as including a door jamb frame assembly,indicated generaily by the reference numeral 68, which is adapted to belocated against a masonry wall or the like as shown in FIG. 1, and adoor jamb frame assembly, indicated generally by the reference numeral69, which is adapted to retain and support a wall panel member 11 asalso shown in FIG. 1. Actually, door jamb frame assembly -68 is simply acontinuation of side jamb frame assembly 12 which is on the left of thewall structure as viewed in FIG. 1, and door jamb frame assembly 69 issimply a continuation of the vertical mullion frame assembly with, ineach case, a door adapter and stop frame assembly being added as shownin FIG. 2. This is believed to be readily apparent upon comparing FIG. 2with FIGS.

3 and 4 of the drawings. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 2. door sill70 extends between door jamb frame assemblies 68 .and 69 and the door71, indicated by dotdash lines, is hinged (by suitable means not shown)with respect to door jamb frame assembly 69 whereby the other door jambframe assembly 68 accommodates the strike edge of the door.

Referring now to the left portion of FIG. 2, door jamb frame assembly68is seen to be similar to side jamb frame assembly 12 shown in FIG. 4 inthat both frame assemblies include substantialy L-shaped bar member 43which is attached with respect to masonry wall 17 as has been describedabove in connection with the side jamb frame assembly 12, and to whichthe assembly of body member 18, face member 19, and back member 20 isconnected as has also been described in connection with side jamb frameassembly 12. Consequently, corresponding parts have been given the samereference numerals in both FIGS. 2 and 4 and further detaileddescription of these corresponding parts is deemed to be unnecessary.

The door jamb frame assembly 68 differs from side jamb frame assembly 12in that assembly 68 includes a door stop assembly, designated generallyby reference numeral 72. Thus, referring to FIGS. 2 and 13, door stopassembly 72 is shown as including a door adapter 73 and a door stopmember 74. When the door adapter 73 is used, glaze strips 26 are omittedfrom one front edge portion of body member 18 and also from theoppositely disposed extremity of face member channel side- 33 as shownin FIG. 2. Furthermore, adapter 73 includes a pair of spaced apartflange members 75 whichhave an outside dimension such that when facemember 19 is connected with respect to body member 18, and

opposed glaze strips 26 are drawn up against opposite sides of the toeportion 45 of substantially L-shaped bar 43 as shown in FIG. 2, theother opposed edge portions of body member 18 and face member 19 (whichlack glaze strips) will be in contact with or at least substantiallyadjacent to flange members 75 as shown in FIG. 2.

The door stop member 74 is located with respect to adapter 73 as shownin FIGS. 2 and 13. As shown in FIG. 13, adapter 73 is connected bysuitable means, such as connecting screws 76, to both channel side 23 ofbody member 18 and channel side 33 of face member 19 whereby the doorstop assembly 72 is retained securely along the inner face of door jambassembly 68. Stop member 74 is detachably connected to adapter 73 by anysuitable means such as by stop 74 engaging, and being retained by, aspring arm connector 77 which, in turn is connected to adapter 73. Also,as shown in FIG. 2, stop 74 has a glaze, or weather, strip 26 mountedthereon and extending along the front of stop 74.

Door jamb frame assembly 69 is similar to door jamb frame assembly 68 inthat assembly 69 likewise includes a door stop assembly 72 which isconstructed and connected to the other frame components making up dooramb frame assembly 69 similarly to stop assembly 72 described above inconnection with door jamb assembly 66. Accordingly, further detaileddescription of door amb assembly 69 is deemed to be unnecessary otherthan to point out that instead of accommodating the portion 45 ofsubstantially L-shaped bar 43, frame assembly 69 retains and supports apanel member 11 in the manner in which side jamb and mullion frameassemblies 12 and 15 retain and support panel members 11.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 7, the door head frame assembly, designatedgenerally by the reference numeral 78, is essentially similar to thedoor jamb frame assembly 69 shown in the right hand portion of FIG. 2.Accordingly, corresponding reference numerals have been applied tocorresponding parts in FIGS. 2 and 7 and, in view of the detaileddescription given above in connection with FIG. 2 and the horizontalframe assembly 16 shown in the lower portion of FIG. 5, further detaileddescription of FiG. 7 is deemed to be unnecessary.

To install a wall structure utilizing frame assemblies r aw and framecomponents according to the present invention, the following procedure,as described in general, may be used, it being assumed that the wallstructure is to fill an opening defined by another wall or walls,masonry for example:

As a first step, the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the openingwhich is to be occupied by the panel wall structure are measured. Then,head and sill lengths of the peripherally located substantially L-shapedbar member 43 are cut so that these lengths extend the full width of theopening. Next, side jamb lengths of bar 43 are cut to a length theheight of the opening less enough to allow for the bar 43 at the headand sill. In this way, the entire periphery of the wall structure isframed with the head and sill bars extending the full width of theopening and the side jamb bars extending the full height between thehead and sill bars. If a doorway is involved, the sill bar is extendedfrom a side wall of the opening to abut against the door jamb.

Lengths of elongated body member 18 are then cut so that the bodymembers of the side jamb and mullion frame assemblies 12 and 15 willextend between bars 43 of the head and sill frame assemblies. Mullionframe assemblies 15' will be the same length as the side jamb frameassemblies except when the serve as door jambs, in which case they willextend to the finish floor line as shown in the lower portion of FIG. 7.

After locating the attachment holes for attaching the body members 18 tothe respective peripherally extending bars 43 of the side jamb frameassemblies, these bar members are then attached to the wall surface 47by means of connector members, or anchor screws 52, as has beendescribed above in connection with FIG. 4. The corresponding bodymembers 18 are then connected with respect to the bar members 43 as hasbeen likewise described above in connection with FIG. 4. At this stageof the installation, the peripherally extending bars '43 are in place,the sill bar having been attached when the head bar was attached, andthe side frame jamb assembly body members 18 are in place.

Angle members 64 are then connected to head and sill bars 43 so that thevertically extending mullion frame assemblies will be located asdesired. Elongated slots 67 in arms 66 of angle members 6 (FIG. 3)enable precise adjustments to be made in order to locate the center linefor each mullion frame assembly. With the mullion center line thusdetermined, mullion frame assembly body members 18 are cut to thenecessary lengths and connected in place between the head and sill bars43.

Horizontal frame assembly 16 body members 18 are then cut to therequired length so that they will fit between vertically extendingmullions in FIG. I. Likewise, the head and sill frame assembly bodymembers 18 are cut to the required length so that they extend betweenvertically extending mullions as shown in FIG. 1.

The head and sill assembly body members 18 are connected with respect tobars 43 as shown in FIGS. and 6 While the body members 1.8 of thehorizontal frame assemblies are connected to body members 18 of themullion frame assemblies by means of angle connectors 64 as shown in thelower portion of FIG. 5. At this stage of the assembly, the peripherallyextending head, sill and side jamb bars 43 are in place, and bodymembers 18 of the head, sill, side jamb, mullion and horizontal frameassemblies are also in place. Longitudinally extending glaze strips 26are also in place, extending longitudinally adjacent each front sideedge of each body member 18 as has been described above, with theexception of those edges adjacent the inner top and inner sides of thedoor frame as shown in F168. 2 and 7.

Panel members 11 can then be cut and placed in position. the lowerhorizontal edges of the panel members resting on'suitable shim members63 as shown in FIGS.

5 and 6. In order to retain the panel members While ver- 10 tical facemembers 19 are connected to body members 18 as has been described abovein connection with mullion assembly 15, for example, temporary connectoror retaining clips are utilized in connection with the horizontallyextending body members 18. In fact, if face mern bers 19 are not to beattached immediately, these temporary retaining clips may be used insutficient quantities in connection with both vertically extending bodymembers 18 and horizontally extending body members 18 to I hold a panelor panels securely in place.

An example of such a temporary connector or retaining clip is shown inFIGS. 10 and ll, it being understood that, while such a clip is shown inconnection with a vertically extending body member 18, such clips willalso beused in connection with the horizontally extending body members18, and may be used in connection with both vertically and horizontallyextending body members 18 as a temporary retaining means for a panelmember 11. The temporary retaining clip is designated generally byreference numeral 79 and is shown as comprising a body portion 80 fromwhich a curved somewhat resilient finger portion 81 extends. A pair ofprong members 82 extend from body portion 80 as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11and the spacing of these prong members in relation to flange members 30which extend from web 21 of body member 18 is such that the prongmembers 82 engage prongs 31 on flange members 30 to hold clip 79 firmlyin place with respect to body member 18. Moreover, the shape andcurvature of finger portion 81 is such that it engages and biases panelmember 11 against glaze strip 26 as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

If a door opening is provided in the wall structure, then, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 7, a door stop adapter 73 is connected with respect to abody member 18 and face member 19 forming the door jamb. The adaptertakes the place of a panel member, with the glaze strips being omittedfrom the body member and the face member where the adapter prongs passbetween these parts as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. As has been explainedabove, the adapter is preferably screw connected to both body member 18and face member 19 (see FIG. 13). The door stop assembly is completed bymounting door stop member 74 with respect to adapter 73, the mountingbeing preferably accomplished by a spring clip arrangement wherebymember 74 may be held in place as shown in FIG. 13.

Vertical face members 19 are then measnred and cut so as to becoextensive with the vertical body members 18 to which they are to beconnected. The connection is made by means of screw-threaded connectors34 as described above in connection with FIG. 3. Of course, anytemporary retaining clips 79 which are employed in connection withvertically extending body member 18 will 'be removed prior to attachmentof the face members.

This is done by simply prying the clips loose with a screw driver or thelike. Horizontally extending face members 18 are measured, cut andattached in a manner similar to the vertically extending face members.The necessary back members 2% are measured, cut and pushed intoengagement with their associated body members 18 until they snap intoplace as has been described above in con nection with mullion assembly15 (see P16. 3). As also explained above, a back member 28 may beremoved from its associated body member 18 by prying in a side channel49 until prong 4 2 clears prong 24 whereby access may be had to'aconnector 34. This permits ready disconnection of the parts in order toreplace a panel member 11.

From the description given above, it is apparent that the presentinvention provides new and improved frame assemblies and framecomponents for use in a wall structure made up of panel members whichare retained and supported by frame members. Components making up theframe assemblies may be readily assembled or disassembled, areattractive in appearance and are weathertight. The readyinterchangeability of parts for horizontal and vertical arrangementsmakes possible a variety of architectural designs thus contributingmaterially to the overall appearance of a finished wall structure.Moreover, a wall structure constructed in accordance with the presentinvention is relatively economical for the wall area which may beobtained, particularly when the labor cost of putting up the wall isconsidered. Such a structure is adaptable in that a variety of panelmaterials may be employed and a variety of frame assembly materials maybe employed. In the usual installation, however, the panel members willbe glass panes and the frame members will be extruded aluminum shapes.

While I have described and illustrated embodiments of my invention, itis to be understood that I do not intend to be restricted solely theretobut that I do intend to cover all modifications thereof which would beapparent to one skilled in the art which come within the spirit andscope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. For use in a wall structure made up of panel members which areretained and supported by frame members, a frame member assembly adaptedto be connected to a substantially flat wall surface, said assemblycomprising an elongated substantially L-shaped bar having a first armadapted to be placed against a substantially fiat wall surface and asecond arm projecting away from such a wall surface when said first armis placed against the surface; an elongated body member having a frontsurface bounded by longitudinally extending side edges, a glaze stripmounted on said front surface and extending longitudinally of said frontsurface adjacent a side edge of said front surface; an elongated facemember overlying said body member front surface, said face member havinga width corresponding substantially to the width of said body memberfront surface and including side members each projecting rearwardly withrespect to the front of said face member toward a side edge -of saidbody member front surface, at least one of said rearwardly projectingface member side members terminating in a glaze strip disposed oppositesaid glaze strip mounted on said body member front surface; meansdetachably connecting said body member to said substantially L-shapedbar so that said second arm of said bar is located between said glazestrip mounted on said body member front surface and said glaze striplocated at the end of a face member side member; and detachableconnecting means engaging and extending between said body member andsaid face member to maintain said face member in overlying relation withrespect to the front surface of said body member and said opposed glazestrips in engagement with said second arm of said substantially L-shapedbar.

2. A frame member assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first armof said substantially L-shaped bar has at least one longitudinallyextending groove in the surface of said first arm which is adapted to beplaced against a substantially flat wall surface whereby a sealingcompound may be retained between said first arm and a substantially flatwall surface.

3. For use in a wall structure made up of panel members which areretained and supported by frame members, a frame member assembly adaptedto be connected to a substantially flat wall surface, said assemblycomprising an elongated substantially L-shaped bar having a first armadapted to be placed against a substantially flat wall surface, and asecond arm which projects away from such a surface when the first arm isplaced against the surface; an elongated channel shape body memberhaving a channel web facing to the front of said body member and boundedby longitudinally extending side edges, channel sides projectingrearwardly from said channel web, and a longitudinally extending glazestrip mounted on said channel web adjacent each side edge of saidchannel web; an elongated channel shape face member overlying said bodymember channel web, said face memher including a channel web and channelsides projecting rearwardly from said face member channel web, each facemember channel side terminating in a glaze strip disposed opposite acorresponding glaze strip mounted on said body member channel web; meansdetachably connecting said body member with respect to saidsubstantially L-shaped bar so that said second arm of said bar projectsbetween a glaze strip mounted on said body member channel web and aglaze strip located at the end of a face member channel side; anddetachable connecting means engaging and extending between said bodymember channel web and said face member channel web to maintain a glazestrip mounted on said body member channel web and a glaze strip locatedat the end of a face member channel side in engagement with said secondarm of said substantially L-shaped bar, the other opposed pair of glazestrips being adapted to receive and retain a panel member therebetween.

4. A frame member assembly according to claim 3 including an elongatedchannel shape back member, and means detachably connecting said backmember to said body member.

5. A frame member assembly according to claim 3 wherein said face memberchannel web has a pair of spaced apart parallel flanges extendingrearwardly therefrom, each flange having internal ribs extendinglongitudinally thereof with the ribs on one flange being offset withrespect to the ribs on the other flange so that the ribs are adapted toengage threads on a threaded connector, and said detachable connectingmeans includes a head portion engaging said body member channel web anda threaded end portion engaging said flange ribs to connect said facemember in overlying relation with respect to said body member.

6. A door :frame assembly comprising an elongatedbody member having afront surface bounded by longitudinally extending side edges, bodymember sides extending rearwardly from said side edges, and a glazestrip mounted on said front surface and extending longitudinally of saidfront surface adjacent a side edge of said front surface; an elongatedface member overlying said front surface, said face member having awidth corresponding substantially to the width of said front surface andincluding means forming an integral part of said face member forconnecting said face member to said body member, said connecting meansbeing inaccessible from the front of said frame member assembly andbeing located substantially throughout the length of said face member,and said face member also including side members each projectingrearwardly with respect to the front of said face member toward a sideedge of the front surface of said body member, one of the rearwardlyprojecting .face member side members terminating in a glaze stripdisposed opposite the glaze strip mounted on said body member frontsurface whereby a panel member or the like may be received between theopposed glaze strips and retained and supported thereby; a door stophaving a portion located between a side edge of said body member frontsurface and the end of the face memher side member which does notterminate in a glaze strip; and a detachable connecting member engagingand extending between said body member and said face member connectingmeans to maintain said face member in overlying relation to said bodymember front surface and said opposed glaze strips in engagement with apanel member or the like located therebetween, with said door stopportion being located between a side edge of said body member frontsurface and an end of a face member side member.

7. A door frame assembly according to claim 6 including an elongatedback member, and means detachably connecting said back member to saidbody member.

8. A door frame assembly comprising an elongated channel shape bodymember having a channel web facing to the front of said body member andchannel sides .a assz extending rearwardly from said channel web, and aglaze strip connected to the front of said channel web adjacent a sideedge of said web, said glaze strip extending longitudinally with respectto said channel web; a channel shape face member overlying said'bodymember channel web, said face member including a channel web and facemember channel sides projecting rearwardly from said face member channelweb, one of said face member channel sides terminating in a glaze stripdisposed opposite the glaze strip connected to the front of said bodymember channel web whereby a panel member or the like may be receivedbetween a pair of opposed glaze strips and retained thereby, a pair ofspaced apart parallel flanges projecting rearwardly from said facemember channel web, each flange having longitudinally extending internalribs thereon, the ribs on one flange being offset with respect to theribs on the other flange whereby threads on a threaded connector may bereceived and engaged by said ribs; a door stop having a portion locatedbetween one side edge of said body member channel web and the end of theface member side member which does not terminate in a glaze strip; and adetachable conector extending between said body member channel web andsaid face member channel web, said connector having a head portionengaging said body member channel web and a threaded end portionengaging said flange ribs to maintain said face member in overlyingrelation to said body member channel web and said opposed glaze stripsin engagement with a panel member or the like located therebetween, withsaid door stop portion being located between a side edge of said bodymember channel web and the end of the face member side member which doesnot terminate in a glaze strip.

9. A door frame assembly adapted to be connected to a substantially flatwall surface, said assembly comprising an elongated substantiallyL-shaped bar having a first arm adapted to be placed against asubstantially flat wall surface and a second arm projecting. away fromsuch a wall surface when said first arm is placed against the surface;an elongated channel shape body member having a channel web facing tothe lflOIlt of said body member and channel sides extending rearwardlyfrom said channel web, and a glaze strip connected to the front of saidchannel web adjacent a side edge of said web, said glaze strip extendinglongitudinally with respect to said channel web; a channel shape facemember overlying said body member channel web, said face memberincluding a channel web and face member channel sides projectingrearwardly from said face member channel web, one of said face memberchannel sides terminating in a glaze strip disposed opposite the glazestrip connected to the front of said body member channel web; meansdetachably connecting said body member to. said substantially L-shapedbar so that said second arm of said bar is located between said glazestrip mounted on said body member channel web front and the glaze stripat the end of said one face member channel side; a door stop having aportion located between one side edge of said body member channel weband the end of the face memher side member which does not terminate in aglaze strip; and detachable connecting means engaging and extendingbetween said body member and said face member to maintain said facemember in overlying relation with respect to the front surface of saidbody member, said opposed glaze strips being in engagement with saidsecond arm of said substantially L-sha-ped bar, and said door stopportion being located between a side edge of said bodymember channel webandthe end of the face member side member which does not terminate in aglaze strip. a

10. A door frame assembly according to claim 9 wherein said first arm ofsaid substantially L-shaped bar has at least one longitudinallyextending groove extending inwardly from the surface of said first arm14 which is adapted to be placed against a substantially flat wallsurface whereby a sealing compound may be retained between said firstarm and a substantially fiat wall surface, and said assembly alsoincludes an elongated back member, and means detachably connecting saidback member to said body member.

ll. For use in a wall structure made up of panels which are retained andsupported by frame members, a frame member assembly comprising anelongated channel shape body member having a channel web facing to thefront of said body member and boundm by longitudinally extending sideedges, channel sides projecting rearwardly from said channel web, anon-metallic, resilient glaze strip mounted on said channel web adjacenteach side of said channel web, and a pair of parallel spaced apartflanges projecting forwardly from said body member channel web andspaced inwardly of each said side edge, each flange including means forretaining a detachable panel retaining clip in position with respect tosaid body member to overlie a panel member and hold it temporarily inplace alongside said body member; an elongated channel shaped facemember overlying said body member channel web, said face memberincluding a channel web and channel sides projecting rearwardly fromsaid face member channel web, each face member channel side terminatingin a non-metallic, resilient glaze strip disposed opposite thecorresponding glaze strip mounted on said body member channel webwhereby a pair of panel members may be retained between opposed glazestrips, and take up connecting means fixedly located between therearwardly projecting channel sides of said face member so as to extendsubstantially continuously along its length and be accessible only fromthe rear of said face member at all points along its length forconnecting said face member to said body member; and a plurality ofdetachable connecting members extending between said body member channelweb and said face member, each of said connecting members having meansat one end engaging said body member channel web and means at the otherend engaging said face member take-up connecting means, said means atsaid other end of said connecting member cooperating with said take-upconnecting mean-s to draw said face member into a closely overlyingrelation with said body member and press the panels tightly therebetweenwhen said connecting member is actuated to assemble said frame members.

12. The frame assembly according to claim ll wherein said take-upconnecting means on said face member comprises a pair of spaced apartparallel flanges projecting rearwardly from said face member channelweb, each of said face member flanges having longitudinally extendinginternal ribs thereon with the ribs of one flange being offset withrespect to the ribs on the opposite flange so that the flange ribs mayengage the threads on a threaded connector, and said means at the otherend of said connecting member comprises a threaded end portion engagingsaid flange internal ribs, whereby said threaded end portioncooperates'with said flange ribs to draw said face member into a closelyoverlying relation to said body member web and press the panels tightlytherebetween when said connecting member is actuated to assemble saidframe member.

13. A frame member assembly according to claim 12 wherein said bodymember flanges and said face member flanges are oppositely located withsaid face member flanges being spaced apart less than said body memberflanges such that said face member flanges may be received between saidbody member flanges depending upon the depth of said face member.

, 14. For use in a Wall structure made up of panel members which areretained and supported by frame members, a frame member assemblycomprising an elongated channel shape body member having a channel webfacing to the front of said body member and bounded by longitudinallyextending side edges, channel sides projecting rearwardly from saidchannel web, a non-metallic, resil-' ient glaze strip mounted on saidchannel web adjacent each side of said Channel web, and a first pair ofparallel spaced apart flanges projecting forwardly from said body memberchannel web and spaced inwardly from each said side edge; an elongatedchannel shape face member overlying said body member channel web, saidface member including a channel web and channel sides projectingrearwardly from said face member channel web, each face member channelside terminating in a non-metallic, resilient glaze strip disposedopposite the corresponding glaze strip mounted on said body memberchannel Web whereby a pair of panel members may be retained betweenopposed glaze strips, and a second pair of spaced parallel flangesprojecting rearwardly from said face member channel web, each of saidsecond pair of flanges having longitudinally extending internal ribsthereon with the ribs on one flange being offset with respect to theribs on the opposite flange so that the flange ribs may engage helicalthreads on a threaded connector, said first pair of flanges on said bodymember and said second pair of flanges on said face member beingoppositely located with said second pair of flanges being spaced apartless than said first pair of flanges such that said second pair offlanges may be received between said first pair of flanges dependingupon the depth of said face member; and a plurality of detachableconnecting members extending between said body member channel web andsaid ribbed flanges of said face member channel web, each of saidconnecting members having a head portion engaging said body memberchannel web and a threaded end portion engaging said flange ribs, saidthreaded end portion cooperating with said flange ribs to draw said facemember into a closely overlying relation to said body member channel weband press the panels tightly therebetween when said connecting member isactuated to assemble said frame members.

15. For use in a wall structure made up of panel members which areretained and supported by frame members, a frame member assemblycomprising an elongated channel shape body member having a channel webfacing to the front of said body member and bounded by longitudinallyextending side edges, channel sides projecting rearwardly from saidchannel web with each channel side terminating in a prong member, anon-metallic,

resilient glaze strip mounted on said channel web adjacent each side ofsaid channel web, and a first pair of parallel spaced apart flangesprojecting forwardly from said body member channel Web and spacedinwardly from each said side edge, each flange of said first pairincluding means for retaining a detachable panel retaining clip mountedin position with respect to said body member to overlie a panel memberand hold it temporarily in place alongside said body member; anelongated channel shape face member overlying said body member channelweb, said face member including a channel web and channel sidesprojecting rearwardly from said face member channel web, each facemember channel side terminating in a glaze strip disposed opposite acorresponding glaze strip mounted on said body member channel webwhereby a pair of panel members may be retained between opposed glazestrips, and a second pair of spaced parallel flanges projectingrearwardly from said face member channel web, each of said second pairof flanges having longitudinally extending internal ribs thereon withthe ribs on one flange being offset with respect to the ribs on theopposite flange so that the flange ribs may engage helical threads on athreaded connector, said first pair of flanges on said body member andsaid second pair of flanges on said face member being oppositely locatedwith said second pair of flanges spaced apart less than said first pairof flanges such that said second pair of flanges may be received betweensaid first pair of flanges depending on the depth of said face member; aplurality of connecting members extending between said body memberchannel Web and said ribbed flanges of said face member channel Web,each of said connecting members having a head portion engaging said bodymember channel web and a threaded end portion engaging said flange ribsand in cooperation with said flange ribs drawing said face member into aclosely overlying relation to said body member channel web with thepanels pressed tightly therebetween; and an elongated channel shape backmember having a channel web and channel sides projecting forwardly fromsaid back member channel Web toward said body member channel sides, eachback member channel side terminating in a prong member engaging acorresponding prong member on a body channel side to detachably connectsaid back member to said body member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.24,133 Bloedow Mar. 20, 1956 2,015,447 Esser Sept. 24, 1936 2,475,885Geyser July 12, 1949 2,771,970 Geyser Nov. 27, 1956 2,788,099 GeyserApr. 9, 1957 2,800,983 Toney July 30, 1957 2,808,136 Hammitt et al. Oct.1, 1957 2,885,040 Grossman May 5, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 636,852 GreatBritain May 10, 1950 790,691 Great Britain Feb. 12, 1958 1,157,253France May 28, 1958

